Ohio Electric Bills Hit Record Highs

July electric bills will set records for millions of Ohioans, according to new state utility data.

A household using an average of 900 kilowatt-hours paid $189 in Cleveland, $188 in Dayton and $184 in Akron last month, all records. Columbus was highest at $198.53, a dollar off its 2024 peak.

Statewide, July bills run 12% above last year and 62% above 2015. The same Columbus usage cost $118 in 2016.

Analysts point to a July heat dome, coal plants going offline, slow grid approvals for new generation and demand from more than 200 operating or planned data centers. Generation charges, not the delivery rates regulators set, account for most of the increase.

AEP Ohio said generation is the main driver and noted state law bars it from owning power plants. FirstEnergy has asked regulators for a three-year delivery increase starting in 2027.

Miller Won’t Quit Ahead of Deadline

U.S. Rep. Max Miller says he will not drop his reelection bid as Ohio Republicans face today’s deadline to place another name on the November ballot, instead requesting a House ethics investigation into himself in a bid to clear his name. 

He faces abuse allegations from his former wife, Emily Moreno, in police reports and court filings tied to a long-running custody fight. Miller has not been criminally charged, and he denies the accusations.

In a livestream on X Sunday, Miller said every allegation traces back to Moreno. “I’m not dropping out of this race and I’ll win in November,” he said.

Fellow Republicans have called on him to resign, and President Trump reportedly phoned Miller Monday and expressed doubts about the Ohio Republican’s candidacy, saying “things aren’t looking good.“

Withdrawing by 4 p.m. today would trigger a special primary. After that, county party chairs have until Aug. 10 to name a replacement.

Cleveland Clinic Falls in Heart Rankings

Cleveland Clinic fell to No. 8 nationally for cardiology and heart surgery in U.S. News & World Report‘s new hospital rankings.

The Clinic had held the top spot in heart care for roughly three decades before slipping to third last year. It still made the 2026-2027 Best Hospitals Honor Roll for a 36th straight year, one of only 20 hospitals nationwide.

Cleveland Clinic remains the No. 1 hospital in Ohio and ranks nationally in 13 of 14 adult specialties, including second in gastroenterology and rheumatology. Four of its hospitals placed in the state’s top seven.

Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center ranked second in Ohio and first in Columbus, with nine nationally ranked specialties. OhioHealth Riverside Methodist led Columbus hospitals with 16 high-performing ratings.

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➤ Statewide: The Ohio Ballot Board approved language for Issue 3, the only statewide question on the November ballot. It would write Ohio’s existing photo ID requirement for in-person voting into the state constitution. (See Details)

➤ North Royalton: City Council broke its summer recess Monday to unanimously approve two months of health insurance and a payout of accrued leave for the family of Building Commissioner David Smerek, who was shot and killed at the city service center July 24. (More)

➤ Butler County: Crews pulled a worker from the bottom of a construction trench on Kennel Road Monday evening. Madison Township firefighters, Trenton firefighters and the Butler County Technical Rescue team stabilized the trench before lifting him out; he was taken to a trauma center. (More)

➤ Port Clinton: Several waterspouts seen on Lake Erie on Sunday were captured on video. (See Video)

➤ Fairfield County: Health officials are investigating an outbreak of eight cases of Legionnaires’ disease at a nursing home in Thornville, just north of Lancaster. (More)

➤ Southwest Ohio: The National Weather Service has confirmed that three new tornadoes touched down with the storms that rolled through on Saturday, with one in Montgomery County, one in Preble County, and one in Warren County. (More)

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➤ Cleveland’s WNBA expansion franchise announced its team name as the Sirens yesterday. The team will begin play in 2028 as the league’s 16th franchise. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Guardians acquired Nationals All-Star left-hander Foster Griffin just before the MLB trade deadline, capping a busy day that also saw Cleveland add outfielder Jo Adell from the Angels and designated hitter Nathaniel Lowe from the Reds. (More)

➤ Ohio sportsbooks took in $658.9 million in wagers in June, a 12.4% jump from the same month last year, driven by the World Cup, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Final. (More)

➤ Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell married Grammy-winning R&B singer Coco Jones this weekend in a ceremony attended by NBA stars Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, and Bam Adebayo. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Tennis | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ Kaja’s Farmers Market in Hinckley has seen more customers since health officials tied a cyclospora outbreak to lettuce imported from Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations in nine states, owner Svetlana Latkovic said. (See Details)

➤ Chipotle wants to renovate the former Wendy’s at 4003 Wilmington Pike in Kettering and add a drive-thru pickup lane. (More)

➤ Roetzel & Andress, an Akron law firm, turns 150 this year, having started in 1876 as a two-lawyer partnership downtown. It now has nearly 200 attorneys in Ohio, Florida, and Illinois. (Read Story)

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➤ Researchers at Ohio State are asking Licking County residents for toenail clippings and baby teeth to measure exposure to oilfield brine, the salty drilling waste some townships spread on roads to melt ice and control dust. (See Details)

➤ Meg’s Med Spa in Willoughby posted surveillance video after someone walked off with its decorative alligator around 2 a.m. Sunday. Chuck is normally chained out front, but staff had unhooked him for a nearby festival. The thief saw the video, returned Chuck, and brought flowers with his apology. (See Video)

➤ The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its annual fall foliage forecast, with peak color predicted to arrive in northern and central Ohio by mid-October. (See Map)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ One of the world’s richest investors swears by a rule critics call dangerously aggressive for retirees. (Hear Details)

➤ Rising costs are forcing a record number of young professionals back into their parents’ homes. (Hear Episode)

➤ The death of a young woman at a New York med spa is exposing a booming and largely unregulated industry. (Listen Now)

In August, where does most of your produce come from?

1. Grocery store
2. Farmer’s market/roadside stand
3. My own garden
4. A little of each
5. I don’t buy produce

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you planning to go to a state or county fair this year?

1. Not this year: 43%
2. Maybe: 21%
3. Going soon: 19%
4. Already went: 17%

On this day in 1917, 25,187 members of the Ohio National Guard were drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in which war?

Show me the answer